The California Medical Board now recognizes medical marijuana as an emerging treatment modality. For many Californians, how to get your medical marijuana recommendation remains a mystery. A consultation for a medical marijuana approval should be very similar to consulting with your doctor to discuss any other aliment or condition.
The process is relatively simple for California residents 18 and older that have a medical condition or aliment that they believe cannabis may be of benefit. A consultation with a licensed medical doctor, MD, or doctor of osteopathy, DO, to approve your medical marijuana use is required by the California Medical Board.
Your proof of residency must be done via a government issued photo ID. The most common of which is your driver’s license or state ID card. A passport will work but you must also provide proof of current residency. A current utility bill, car or voter registration are some common ways for proof of residency in lieu of a driver’s license or sate ID card.
There are many conditions and ailments that cannabis may provide a cure or relief. The most common and widely known are for HIV / Aids patients, chemotherapy patients for nausea relief, and appetite stimulation for patients afflicted with anorexia. Cannabis has been proven effective for a multitude of other aliments including chronic pain, MS, glaucoma, PTSD, and a host of other age related ailments.
The California Medical Board requires a licensed MD or DO to approve medical marijuana usage. Your primary care physician can issue you a medical marijuana recommendation, provided he or she is a licensed MD or DO, however in many instances they are unaware of the state’s guidelines and/or requirements or unwilling to support cannabis as medicine and therefore reluctant to grant your approval. Attending physicians providing medical marijuana approvals can readily be found via the internet. These physicians are versed in the guidelines and can provide you the necessary documentation and support that will give you access to medical marijuana from a local collective or dispensary.
It has been almost 14 years since the voters of California passed Propostion 215, the Compassionate Use Act, allowing seriously ill patients the right to safe access to medical marijuana. How to get your medical marijuana recommendation by now should be common knowledge. Hopefully with increasing scientific study and research, cannabis will regain acceptance in the medical community as it once was before prohibition.
Want to find out more about how to get your medical marijuana recommendation, then visit Hal Kemp’s site on how to choose the best medical marijuana for your needs.